The epitome of a "dive bar" & it's awesome. Clean place with a great liquor & beer selection. Great lunch specials. The bartender was beyond friendly & really nice to talk to. The food menu looks great, typical bar fare which is nice. They have touch tunes system so you can play some tunes if you choose. A lot of regulars frequent this place and the ones I met were very nice & welcoming. Will be back soon. A lot of people on yelp complain about them being a "cash only" place. That's their choice, get over it. If you didn't see the 4 cash only signs that's your fault. Besides, not paying credit card surcharges helps keep their liquor & beer prices reasonable. read more

Oscar's Tavern - Cheese fries were great! - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Nice vibe! Reasonable prices and an overall good time! Menu selection is fair and you're bound to find something you like. I went in and was able to catch a game on, met some new people, someone played a song for me and the drinks were great! Staff is great! I've never ran into any issues while visiting. From the door to the bar, everything is great! It's also located in a convenient spot on Sansom that happens to be very lively and engaging. It's always something going on in the area or somewhere to go. read more

Decided to pop in on a Friday night looking for something to eat and was surprised by the cheesesteak! The vibes of Oscar's Tavern resembles the ones in Ireland. It's very homey! The peppers cheese steak came with 3 pieces which was surprising. The beef was cheesy and warm and it was delicious. I'm not a fan of thick cut fries but these were done right; nice and crispy! Would definitely come again for a night out with friends. Cash only! Service was quick! read more

Oscar's Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Had all the essential elements: locals hang out, good beer cheap, obligatory sports support, and responsive staff behind the bar. Did not try any food but will definitely be back! read more

Love! Great bar. A legit bar. I needed beer, they had beer on tap! $5 a draught. Good selection. Bar staff included women and I felt totally safe drinking there by myself. Came back several times on my trip. read more

Oscar's Tavern - Good draught beer on tap - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

NEED TO KNOW B4 YOU WALK IN: No card usage allowed! ONLY CASH! Pros: *Small, nonchain hole-in-the-wall with very reasonably-priced, adult bevs! *Limited menu chock full of staples (hamburgers, salads, sausages, cheesesteaks, wings, onion rings, etc)! *friendly faces (locals & employees) *Philly Eagles decor galore *great music read more

Oscar's Tavern - a view of a city street - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Great local bar with old school cheesesteaks the way they were always intended to be served! Best value in downtown Philly! read more

First time there with my husband, daughter and her fiance. Coming from the Tattoo Convention. Perfect choice. We shared a few cheesesteaks: Pizza steak, Cheesesteak Hoagie and Cheesesteak with mushrooms and friend onions. Cold beer for all. Delish. Perfect place on a cold winter night. Service was friendly and efficiient. Can't wait to go back! read more

Traveled from Orlando to Center City, PA, & came about this awesome location. Dee and Angel were amazing & very attentive. Mimosas were awesome! They recommended great places nearby to spend our time. Would totally recommend to anyone looking to catch a vibe. *CASH ONLY BAR *touch tunes available read more

Great ambiance and food. Go to the bar if you want good service. Will come back again. read more

Great food. You actually get 1 1/2 cheesesteaks in one order and it's a great cheesesteak. Very chill vibe I really like it here. I'll be back when I'm in Philly. read more

I've heard of this center city legend for years. Last night was my first time ending up there. Everything else in center city was jam packed. This place had maybe 30 people. It was nice to get some space to sit and wait for our table at a place across the street. Honestly I would've preferred to stay there but I was out voted. Back in the day it was where a bunch of temple students would go after classes. It seems like it has held that appeal. We left with an $18 bill with 4 people in our party and one person in the group got an $11 whiskey drink. I think she said manhattan but she said it was 90% whiskey. So I guess they want to give you your moneys worth here. The fact that a place like this still exists in center city is a testament to its legendary status. Playlist on was pretty good too. Very diverse. Is that a testament to the crowd that goes in there? I suggest you go here pre or post game. You won't find another place so cheap in this area. read more

Very much a dive bar! Super cheap drinks and food and the people are pretty nice. Will definitely come back.

We stopped in for a drink and ended staying for a bit. It's cash only and they were very accommodating changing the channel to the soccer game for us. The drinks were strong and it felt very Philly just what we were looking for! read more

See all

First of all, a lot of the reviews for Oscar's are hilarious. Yelpers of Philly pondering big questions like: "what even IS a dive bar anymore?" and "why is there a rusty spring in this booth and why am I so happy about it?" and "do you also think it smells like Bubbalicious gum in the bathroom?" I think that about sums it up! Oscar's is amazing. It seems like a big cross section of Philadelphia comes out to play, the hallmark of a perfect dive. Present ownership, cash only, inexpensive drinks, and the kind of atmosphere that only comes from 50 years of consistency. Still being fairly new to our great city, the experience I had on a Monday night date at Oscar's made me feel a little sentimental. How many drunken conversations or fights or one-and-a-half cheesesteaks have been had at that exact same barstool since 1972? The answer is SO many. Made me think about the passing of time and change and what makes Philly Philly and uhm ...humanity in general? Besties, maybe it's not that deep. If you love beer and drinking it, this tavern on Sansom is ready for you. I didn't go in the bathroom and I do not know if it does indeed smell like Bubbalicious gum, but something tells me future tipsy evenings at Oscar's will help me answer that question someday very soon. Cheers! read more

We came here because our kids told us to check it out. We came on a Saturday and the Penn State game was on as well as the Flyers. We were going to go somewhere else to watch Notre Dame and ended up staying because the service was good and then ended up having the Oscar's famous hoagie. It was amazing. And I had the chicken tenders which were also really good. read more

The bartender should have told us when we sat at the bar "THIS IS AN CASH ONLY BAR"! The bartender told me there is a sign on the window but there IS NOT! And they do not even have a ATM! She gave us wrong directions to the closest ATM. I do NOT recommend this place! Check out 1518 instead. read more

Great service great food. Best dive in Philly. Great music. Just remember to bring cash. read more

Oscar's Tavern - Best bar in center city. - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Everything you would want and expect from a dive bar. No frills, cash only, cheap drinks and a nice atmosphere to hang out or watch a game in. read more

Been going to this place for years. Great dive bar, good food. Cash only. My go-to for a few beers when the Phils are on the road.

The atmosphere is nice but our server was rude and the drinks were way too strong, and they never gave us water, would not recommend

Stopped in at Oscars to catch the United States soccer game and they allowed us to change the channel on one of their TVs. I really loved the vibe of this place just your old fashioned neighborhood Irish pub. It is cash only but the drinks were great and strong! Service was good and we were greeted right away and our drinks came out fast. If you are looking for a great Philly spot to watch sports I can't recommend this place enough! read more

This place is great!!!! Was there sunday to watch the Eagles play our bartender Bobby was awesome !! read more

My experiences at Oscar's have been consistently good, full of attentive-enough service, cheap drinks, and the traditional dive bar energy you need in your life. Visits to Oscar's are often after getting food nearby, or before going out dancing for an evening. It's typically more a pit stop for me than a destination which I think is unfair to Oscar's. I can always rely on getting a table, and love the outdoor space they've set up. The family that runs this establishment is welcoming and will even bring out a water bowl for your pup, if you're drinking outside. I typically avoid cocktails at dive bars, but I am a huge fan of Oscar's Mango Martini. Worth every penny of the $9 they charge - not too sweet, not too strong but just two of them will do their job. Minus one star because my first experience here wasn't great, but that was because of our server. After taking an order for our third, maybe fourth round... she let us know that if we wanted to order additional drinks that we would all have to order at once. The only time we didn't do that was when someone else joined our party and asked for a drink in between rounds... who knew that was such a crime? I have not seen her since, so I take that as a sign that she no longer works there and that is for the best. read more

Pretty good spot with a good menu and all that: fun to hangout here. Sometimes there are some some weirdos in here being creepy so might have an odd experience. Worth stopping in good price. Thanks read more

Great "dive" bar in Center City, with good pours at good prices. Had lots of fun chatting with other patrons about sports and life in Philly in general. read more

ALWAYS a solid PHILLY PHIXTURE...O$CAR'$! The "O Tavern" has seen it all...and continues to hold it down during these strange and unprecedented times for our favorite local watering holes and their legendary owners/staff. Oscar's has great service, cheap/affordable drinks and eats, and just hits the spot errytime! No need to bounce around at other overpriced bars along the ever evolving Sansom St. -- stop/stumble/crawl over to "OT's"s, grab a fresh libation, snag a cold brewski, and enjoy the scenery! They've done a wondrous job adapting to the outdoor eating environment in The City of No Brotherly Love (lately at least). I am relatively confident that my phellow Philadelphians share a similar set of golden day memories from Oscar's -- either remembering, or not remembering at all -- many a late and blissful nights spent inside the cave at OT's, dancing the night away, conversing with friends at extremely high volumes, and tossing back PBRs in a dark but glorious room filled with TONS and TONA of character. Well folks -- OT's hasn't lost the character, not one bit...and never fails to impress. -$TEVIE J. read more

Oscar's Tavern - Outdoor at "OT's" - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Well I am impressed.... Specials you say....cheesesteak and half you say?? That is right fellow yelpers you get a cheesesteak and a half you read correctly. Wait...23 oz beer for $4.50 do I have your attention yet? Although you have basement bargain prices at this spot that is not the reason to come. The reason to enter is you will be going through a time loop back to the early 80's where you can mingle with real people without all the hobnobbing and Tom foolerie of your Continentials and $20 dollar swanky cocktails. The waitress was amazing btw me and my date offered her a shot to take with us and she said wait a minute I have to ask my mom who was running the shift! Love it!!! And yes she took a Jameson shot with us. Now on to the food. Pictured below is the Nachos, I really am not a fan of ordering nachos out as places never give you enough meat. The nachos here come with no meat, a very large portion and you get ample cheese but I would not order these if I came back. I ordered the Pierogies which come with fried onions. I like my Pierogies steamed - these come fried and are okay again I would not order these when I come back. This is a drinkers bar and how it was crowded at 3:00pm on a Saturday it must have very loyal customers who all come to have a good time. If you love dive bars this is a must go to spot. I will be back here very soon to try there cheesesteak with three or four beers maybe a shot or two WHAT they have good deals!! Made my list of top three best dive bars I have been to right along with Paddy's and Brownies Irish Pub. And as always people SYOY!!! read more

See all

Great local tavern! Cozy, friendly bar staff, and generous pours! Great way to start out the evening.

Great bar, great people good drinks. Cash only with no atm but would drink here a lot if I lived in the area.

Really nice people! Really fun atmosphere! Really awesome cheesesteaks and a delicious Manhattan I won't soon forget. Prices are incredibly reasonable especially for the neighborhood! I loved the experience including the amazing cheesesteak which I took to go because it's impossible to eat it not over the sink! Loved it all!!!! One more thing - it's cash only. read more

Oscar's Tavern - Manhattan on the rocks- took a few sips before snapping the pic. - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Solid cash only dive bar with the ambiance you'd expect. Get drinks quickly from friendly attentive bar tenders. Food is decent. There are TVs for sports and a juke box thing. read more

So many watering holes in this area. Oscar's feels like the only campfire. I spent 2 days in Center City and came here both days. D was my bartender and welcomed me, remembered my name and my drink. Locals were beyond friendly. On a solo work trip when I felt alone without my family, I truly felt at home at Oscar's. Can't recommend bellying up and shooting the sh*t more. Love Oscar's. read more

Cool dive bar in the middle of the city. Very nice bartender and the other customers were very cool

My cousin has been a heavy regular here for 6 years (Drexel kids) and I came here once in 2019 with him and again this past week. First off : they sell massive LITs so if you like that sort of thing this should be your go to. The vibe is extremely divey and sporty for where it's located especially. So if you love dive bars I'd argue this is one of the best. My BF is a Pittsburgh guy and he loves this place it's exactly what he likes about a bar. They have decorated walls, booth and table seating, and a fun touchtunes machine. Great spot to watch sports games too and grab a bite. This time I got seltzers to drink and my cousin and friends and BF got beers all night. Let me say that this bar is very decently priced for center city phila. I was so surprised that 3 yuenglings, 4 bud light seltzers, pierogis, and a XL cheesesteak and chips all came out to be $56 .... Like what? I was thinking it was going to cost $80-100 but nope! Pleasantly surprised and pleased. Not sure if it's cash only but we paid cash. Adam was a great server and bar tender. I got to the bar over an hour before everyone and he let me take up a big table basically to myself and didn't ask me to move. Very very kind. The food was really good and well priced for what you get too, the cheesesteak was huge! Got 3 halves for $11 and it came with large bag of Herrs chips. We had a blast and I know my cousin and his friends are obsessed with the place. Such a hidden gem. If you need a casual hangout spot that checks every box this is the place! read more

Oscar's Tavern - One Cheesesteak is XL - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bill is the man! Came to Philly for the weekend and found this bar and had a great time. It's a real Philly bar. Great drinks, fun music. I will definitely be backs read more

Oscar's Tavern - a bar with christmas decorations - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Whereas most resturants and bars in Center City gives off a modern, swanky, high class vibe, Oscar's is one if the few places that are divey, but hey, there's absolutely nothing wrong with a dive that serves cheap food and drinks so long as they're good, and Oscar's did not dissappoint.The chicken strips, crab fries, and pierogis were all bomb as well as the screwdrivers I ordered back to back. There was a bit of a wait before we could order, because it was super packed due to it being right after CDC Sips, and there was only one waitress. We didn't mind though, and I musy say she was really working the whole bar front to back, kudos to her! Overall, Oscar's is a good hangout spot to grab a drink or a snack with friends. read more

Oscar's Tavern - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I came here after attending the first annual Eagles Kelly Green block party for a drink. The bar closes at 2am according to Yelp. It is 11:41pm, the security guard proceeds to tell me, the bar is closed. I respond by saying, can I finish my drink first? He leaves. Comes back at 11:47pm and says, verbatim; "my man we gotta get you outta here." I didn't even ACKNOWLEDGE him. I got up and left in DISGUST. This is absolutely UNPROFESSIONAL, especially when I just left a 9 dollar tip. I flew out here from LA and I PROMISE I WILL NEVER STEP FOOT INSIDE IF THIS ESTABLISHMENT AGAIN. #FlyEaglesFly read more

We LOVE Oscar's! My husband and I love to walk down to Oscar's almost every Saturday afternoon and drink pitchers of Rolling Rock outside in the tent! We love Oscar's because it's no-frills, everyone is easy going, and they have cheap beer! It's a nice change compared to most of the other bars in the surrounding area. They have a TV set up outside and always have a game on too! The only downside is that they are cash only. I think they do have Venmo, but you have to ask. Overall, solid place that I highly recommend! read more

Oscar's Tavern - Pitcher of rolling rock - Dive Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Love if there! Great food, bartender was awesome, great service and great atmosphere!! Will definitely be back!